Road planer and grader



July 28,1925. 1,547,853

E. A. WHEELER ROAD PLANER AND GRADER l Filde'c. 5, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR A R1.. A WHEELER ATTYS.

ROAD PLANER AND GRADER F1ed`Dec. 5. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 sa Z5 32 60/Z: 1576.6. F'IG.7.

0 I l l m V 5 L: Y .9 .f8 A 55 V a f4 f6 \Z7 /0 za l 6i 1 I r /NvENToR55 57 ARL A. WHEELER l BY I Arrvs.

July 2s, 1925.

E. A. WHEELER ROAD PLANER AND GRADER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fild'Dec 5, 1921 a...iw

/NvE/vTo/P EARL A. WHEELER I ATTYS.

Patented July 28, 1925.

UNITED STATES- EARL A. WHEELER, F BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA.

EDAD PLANER AND GRADER.

Application led December V3, 1921. vSerial No. 519,704.

To all lwhom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL A. WHEELEn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bakersfield, in the county of Kern and State of California,have invented new and useful Improvements in Road Planers and Graders,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relatesxto a road planer and grader, the principalobjectsof my invention being to generally improve upon and simplify theconstruction of the existing types of similar machines, to provide a`machine that may be easily and economically operated and which will beeffective in cutting off and leveling irregularities in the surfaces 0froadways, and further to provide a road grading and leveling machinehaving a wide range of adjustability so as to materially increase itsscope of usefulness.

Further objects of my invention are to rovide a machine that will renderthe surace vof the road smooth and level without in any way vaffectingor injuring the base or foundation of the roadway, and vfurther toprovide a construction having a plurality of ground engaging membersthat are constructed and arranged so as to co-operate in very rapidlyand eliiciently producing relatively smoth level surfaces on roadways,and further tovprovide a machine having means preferabl I that arenormal y positioned `out of contact with the surface of the ground, and

which, under certain conditions, are adapted to rest on the surface ofthe ground to limit the movement of certain/parts of the machine belowthe surface of the Vroadway that is being acted upon.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my inventionconsists incertain novel features of construction and arrangement 0f parts thatwill be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top lan view of a road planer and grader o struction.

in the form of runnersV my .improved con-.

. l relatively small traction wheel 19 that is -F ig. 2 is a sideelevational view of the 50 machine.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 3-'3 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken approximately on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken approximately on the line 6--6 of Fig.2.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail section taken 60 approximately on the line7-7 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the vertically adjustable member of the machinethat carries the two sets of road surface engaging teeth or scarifiers.

Fig. 9 is a cross section taken approxif. mately on the line 9-f9 of Fi2.

Fig. 10 is a vvertical section ta en approximately on the -line 10-10 ofFig. 8.

Fig. 11 is across section taken on the 70 line 11-11 of Fig. 2.

The main body or quadrangular frame of my improved planer or gradercomprises a pair of elongated runners `|10 that are preferably formed ofsuitablel timbers that are spaced a suitable distance apart and whichare framed together by suitable transversely disposed members 11. Thellower forward corners of the beams forming these runners are cut awayvand rounded as designated by 12, and applied to said rounded cornersand the .lower edges of the beamsV are Hat metal straps 13.- Securedtothe forward end of each runner 10 is a forwardly projecting loop 14, andthese loops provide points of attachment for the chains o r cables thatare utilized in drawing the. machine over the surface ofi a roadway.

- Securedto the forward portions of the runners 10 'and upon the innerfaces thereof 90 are verticall disposed channels 15 in which are arrangefor sliding movement-the vertically disposed members 16 of asubstantially rectangular frame 17.

Swiveled to the upper portion of frame 95 17 are the upper ends ofinverted U-shaped yokes` 18, and journaled in each yoke is a Vprovidedwith a broad bearing face. Se-

curedto the upper ends of the channels is a transversely disposed barthat serves as a support for the upper portions of rotatably mountedrods 21, each of which is provided on its upper end with a hand wheel22. The lower portions of the rods 21 are threaded as designated by 23,and said threaded portions are screw seated in blocks 24 ythat aresecured to the lower portionv of frame 17. The construction justdescribed provides means for raising or loweringr thev wheels 19 thatprovide a rolling support for the forward end of the machine. The yokes18 are curved slightly to the rear so that the wheels 19 may perform thefunctions of caster wheels while the machine is in operation.

The rear portion of the machine is supported by one or more relativelybroad faced wheels 25 that is journaled on a shaft 26, and the latterbeing secured in the lower portion of a substantially rectangular frame27 that is arranged to slide vertically between channels 28 that aresecured to the inner faces of the rear portions of runners 10. Frame 27and the wheels 25 may be adjusted verticallyby the manipulationofvertically disposed rods 29 carrying at. their upper ends hand wheels30, and the lower ends of said rodsr being threaded as designated b 31,and which' threaded ends pass throng blocks 32 that are carried by thelower portion of frame 27. The parts just described provide an adjustable rolling support in the rear portion of the machine; means foradjustment of the respective rolling supports of the main frame beingprovided, as described, in the form of a screw near each corner thereof.

vArranged on the inner faces of the members 10 a short distance to therearof the guiding channels 15 are vertically disposed pairs of guidemembers 33 between which are arranged `the ends of a vertically movableblock 34, l andV extending vertically through suitably formed openingsin the en portions thereof are rods 35, each of which is provided on itsupper end with a hand wheel 36. The lower portions of these rods 35 arescrew threaded, and said threaded portions are screw seated in blocks 37that are arranged 'in Ythe end portions of the block 34, and whicharrangement simple and eilicient means for raismg and lowering saidblock 34 and adjusting its vertical'position with respect to the surfaceof the roadway.-

Formed directly in the front face of block 34 is a series of verticallydisposed continui ous grooves 38 in each of which is arranged a bar 39,and the lower portions of all of the bars being curved forwardly aslight distance. Extending transversely across the front fac-e of block34 adjacent to its upper provides I and lower edges are bars 40, theends of which are secured to said block 34 in any suitable manner, andseated in said bars are set screws 41, the inner ends of which engagedirectly against the front faces of the bars 39, thereby providing meansfor firmly locking said bars 39 to the block 34 and maintaining saidbars in their vertically adj usted positions. The extreme lower ends ofthe bars 39 are cut off at right angles so as to provide said bars withblunt rounded engaging ends.

Formed in the rear face of block 34 is a series of vertically disposedgrooves 42 in each of which is positioned a vertically disposed 'bar 43,and the lower ends of these bars are curved forwardly and tapered so asYto provide pointed ground engaging lower ends 44. Transversely disposedbars 45 have their ends secured to block 34, and passing through saidbars 45 are set screws 46 that engage the bars 43 and lock the same toblock 43 in their vertically adjusted positions.

Arranged on the inner faces of members 10 a short distance to the rearof the guideways 33 are verticallydisposed channels 47, the upper endsof which are connected by la cross bar 48, and arranged to movevertically through said channels are the vertically disposed members ofan inverted U-shaped frame 49. This frame and the parts carried therebyare moved vertically by means of rods that are journaled in cross bar48, the upper. ends of said rods being provided with hand wheels 51, andtheir lower portions being threaded and engaging in the cross bar at thetop of frame 49. Carried by the lower portion of frame 39 is ahorizontally disposed rod or shaft 52, and loosely arranged thereupon isa series of relatively wide discs 53 of uniform size and shape and whichare adapted to serve as clod crushers or pulverizers while the machineis in operation. j

Arranged on the inner faces of the members 10 to the rear of the frame49 that card ries the rollers 53, are pairs of vertically disposedguiding members 54, the same being inclined with respect to the planesoccup-ie by the inner faces of said members 10, and one pair of saidguideways being offset with res ectv to the other set.

rranged to slide vertically between these airs of inclined guideways isan incline lock 55 provided on its front face with a metal plate 56, andsaid block and plate being cut away at the lower rear corner'to providean opening 57 through which excess dirt or gravel may pass while theapparatus is in operation.

Disposed above the guideways 56 is an inverted U-shaped frame 58 thatserves as a support for the upper portions of rods 59, the upper ends ofthe latter being provided with hand wheels 60, and. the lower portionsing and lowering the block 55 that carries the scraping member 56.

In the use of my improved road grading .and leveling-machine, thesupporting rollers 19 and 25 are adjusted vertically by propermanipulation of the rods 2l and 29 so that ed so that the parts 39 and43 may penetrate the surface of the roadway to any desiredl the members10 occupy positions with their under faces slightly elevated withrespectto the surface of the roadway.

The machine is drawn forwardly bya tractor or other suitable motivepower, and

block 34 carrying the bars 39 and 44 is ad-` justed vertically so thatthe lower ends of said bars engage the surface of the roadway andscarify or cut into the same to aslight depth. As the machine movesforward, the rollers 53 crush and pulverize the clods or pieces of dirtthrown up by the scarifying members, and the lower edge of the plate 56passes over the surface of the roadway immediately to the rear of therollers 53, thereby cutting off and leveling all'irregularities andproducing a relatively smooth surface. Any excess of dirt or gravel thatis cut away by the plate 56 will pass rearwardly along the inclinedfront face of said plate y and finally discharge through the opening 57at the end thereof. The rotary crushing members 53 are'raised or loweredby proper manipulation of the rods 50, and the block 55 carrying thescraper member 56 may be raised or lowered by proper manipulation ofrods 59. v

It will be understood that under normal conditions or while the machineis in service the entire weight of the machine is carried by the wheels19 and 25, which have relatively wide rims or ground engaging faces, andthat said wheels may be readily adjustdepth. i If the wheels pass into arut ordepression in the surface of the roadway, the lower faces of therunners' 10 will engage the surface of the roadway, thereby limiting thedownward movement of the scarifying bars 39 and 43, until the wheelspass out of the rut or depression. Thus the construction of my improvedmachine is such that the scarifying members are prevented from passingdownwardly into the base of the roadway and tearing up or destroying thesame.

Further, the construction of my improved machine is such that thescarifying members 39 and 43 may be subjected to practically two-thirdsof the Weight of the entire' machine, and as a result such scarilierswill penetrate the harder portions of the surface of the roadway andreadily break up the same, and whichv surfaces are afterwards linishedor smoothed off by the scraper member 56. The bars or scarifying members39 and 43 are independently mounted so that any one or all of said barsmay be adjusted verticallyso as to operate to best advantage during themovement of the machine; over the roadway.

The bars 39 and 43 are offset or staggered with relation to each otherso that the lower ends'thereof engage and scarify all portions of thesurface of the roadway over which the machine is'drawn.

The adjustability of the'various parts of the machine that engage thesurface of the roadway 'adds materially to the effectiveness of themachine.

Thus it will be seen that I have produced a road leveling and gradingmachine that is of relatively simple structure, capable of being easilydrawn over the surface of the roadway, and said machine being lequippedwith readily adjustable parts that are effective lin rendering thesurface of the roadway smoothand level without affecting the base orfoundation of said roadway. l

It will' be understood that minor changesin size, form and constructionof the various parts of my improved road planer and grader may be madeand substituted lfor those herein shown and described without departingfrom the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in theappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a road planer and grader, a frame including a pair of runners,vertically adjustable rolling supports therefor, adjusting meanstherefor near each of the four cor-4 nersy of4 said frame, verticallyadjustable scarifying members 'carried by said. frame,

scarifyng members adjustably seated in` said grooves.

3. In a road planer and grader, a mobile frame, a-block arranged forvertical adjustment on said frame, said block being provided in one ofits faces with-a series of vertically disposed parallel grooves in theform of continuous lchannels cut in said block,

sparifying members adjustably seated insaid grooves, `and an adjustablescraper arranged in the rear portion of said mobile frame.

4. In a road planer and grader, a mobile frame,'a block arranged forvertical adjustment on said frame, said block being provided in one o`fits faces With a series of vertically disposed parallel grooves in theform of continuous channels cut in said block, scarifying membersadjustably seated in said grooves, an adjustable scraper arranged in therear portion of said mobile frame,'and

a vertically adjustable series of crushing rollers arranged foroperation in the frame in front of the scraper.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

E. A. WHEELER.

